Imperative tenderness

Mary Baker Eddy: A centennial appreciation

The first entry in the book is by Julia M Johnston, and handles the specific topic of Mary Baker Eddy and her fulfilment of prophecy.

I find it to be beautifully written – beautiful prose in keeping with the topic and the person of Mary Baker Eddy. I am particularly touched by this from the second paragraph on page 3: “The human cannot prevent the divine appearing, but is embraced in its imperative tenderness until finally yielding to Truth forever.”

Julia Michael Johnston's book Mary Baker Eddy: Her Mission and Triumph gives us a note about its author. I was hazy about her, and wondered if she had been a student of Mary Baker Eddy – I hadn't consulted that book for a long time.

I commend the reading of Mary Baker Eddy: Her Mission and Triumph, even if it is only to read of Julia's description of her mother's coming to Christian Science and Mrs. Eddy's special commendation of the experience as being “healed straight from God, just the way I was” (page 78).

Julia went into the public practice of Christian Science at the age of 18 (in 1900) and she continued in the work for 65 years.

Joyce Voysey

Demands and rewards

Gosh, we are almost at the end of April, and we need something about our book Mary Baker Eddy: A Centennial Appreciation.

Most of the twelve writers who contributed to the year-long series of articles about the discoverer and founder of Christian Science, Mary Baker Eddy, in 1966 (one hundred years after that discovery), are familiar to this reader. One, Allison W. Phinney, Jr., has just retired from the Christian Science Board of Directors. All shared their understanding of Christian Science in the Christian Science periodicals, as I am discovering with a little detective work. 

For instance, in the 1950's, Julia M. Johnston wrote a series of articles for children and these were collected into a book called Elizabeth and Andy. Ms Johnston is also the author of the biography, Mary Baker Eddy: Her Mission and Triumph. Her article in the centennial appreciation series (Chapter 1 in our book this month) describes Eddy as 'in the forefront of the seers of the ages' (p. 6). Among her many articles in the periodicals is one in the May 24, 1924 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel. It is an insightful article called 'Heaven and Earth', and it seems especially relevant at this Easter season. Here is an excerpt:

As human thought has been impressed with the Biblical statements, it has slowly gained a truer sense of heaven. The word "heaven," however, has always symbolized the total absence of evil, as distinguished from earth. To the extent that men have believed in a future or absent heaven, evil has seemed to be a present reality. When the truth dawns that heaven and earth are indivisible and omnipresent, there ceases to be opportunity or place for error to exist either temporarily or eternally. So, the belief that men must leave earth to reach heaven will vanish, and in its place will abide with them the true idea of earth and heaven. All that men need to leave is their misconception of earth and heaven.

Likewise, the second writer, Robert Peel, was himself an established author. Our book club has read quite a few of his scholarly and thoroughly researched works, including his important 3-set biography of Mrs. Eddy: Mary Baker Eddy: The Years of Discovery; The Years of Trial; The Years of Authority. In chapter 2 of our book, Peel writes of Eddy as discoverer. Here he addresses some of the difficulties and challenges she faced. He says:

The challenge came in communicating to the world what she was discovering, for the whole entrenched belief of life in matter seemed to concentrate itself in outraged opposition to the message and the messenger. While those who were healed were grateful and even enthusiastic, they all too often took alarm as gradually they realized the demands the new teaching made on them. ...

The supreme example of human resistance to Truth - and of its overcoming - is found in the life of Christ Jesus. The greatest exemplar of Love the world has ever known was nailed to a cross by the hatred his example had aroused. Yet in the triumph of the resurrection he proved the ultimate powerlessness and falsity of all that opposes itself to God, as well as the indestructible reality of the Life and Love that are God. 

How grateful is today's reader for the insights shared by these writers.

Julie Swannell

A larger field of activity

We learn from each other's examples. One from whom I've learned a lot is Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science movement and discoverer of Christian Science. I've met her through her writings and what others have written about her. Accounts by those who knew her in person provide wonderful insights, while others have written insightful accounts through careful research. Yet others have written about her influence on the world and on individual lives, including their own lives.

Mrs Eddy, as she has affectionately become known, sought to share her discovery of the science that enabled Christ Jesus to heal, and which he taught his followers also. Her only textbook was the Bible.

Mrs Eddy was an example of poise in action. She was dynamic and unyielding in her quest to 'share the good news with those who showed interest in her discovery' (p. 41), writes Paul Stark Seeley in his article 'Mary Baker Eddy: Lecturer and Preacher', chapter five in our book this month, Mary Baker Eddy: A Centennial Appreciation.

But he notes that it was not easy to share this discovery with 'a world loath to forsake its man-made creeds and theological dogmas and its long-educated reliance on material remedies rather than on God for healing' (p. 40). Nevertheless, she pressed on using available means, such as 'group meetings...in homes...[w]here she gave...parlor lectures' (p. 41). Seeley comments that although she also conducted church services, 'the small attendance at the services--at most one hundred and usually much fewer--showed Mrs Eddy that a larger field of activity must be found' (ibid).

This need was met by lecturing. Did I say Eddy was a woman of action? How about this - 'Thirty-two lectures were given by her in Boston between November, 1878, and July, 1879' (p. 42).

Seeley records her 'urging [a student] to see that the lecture was well heralded and saying that handbills should be used' (ibid). How helpful this is for the present fields of labour, where our lecturers faithfully carry forward this message to the world today.

Julie Swannell

For those who live in SE Queensland, here is a list of forthcoming lectures on Christian Science, given by Christian Science teacher and healer, Michelle Nanouche, from Paris, France. You will be most welcome at these events.

WYNNUM

Sun 5 May, 1 pm lecture + Q&A

92 Florence St Wynnum

Michelle Nanouche, CS: “Christian Science: What it is and how it heals”

 

Mon 6 May, 1 pm lecture + Q&A

As above – “Finding God, Finding Health”

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REDCLIFFE

Tues 7 May, 6 pm lecture + Q&A

Cayman Room, Mon Komo Hotel, 99 Marine Parade, Redcliffe

Michelle Nanouche, CS: “Angry No More”

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TOOWOOMBA

Fri 10 May, 6 pm lecture + Q&A

62 Neil St, Toowoomba

Michelle Nanouche, CS: “Angry No More”

 

Sat 11 May, 2 pm lecture + Q&A

As previous: “Finding God, Finding Health”

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GOLD COAST

Sun 12 May, 2 pm lecture + Q&A

5 West St, Burleigh Heads

Michelle Nanouche, CS: “Finding God, Finding Health”

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MAROOCHYDORE

Sat 19 May, 2 pm lecture + Q&A

Shop 2, Ocean Central, cnr Ocean St and Duporth Ave, Maroochydore

Michelle Nanouche, CS: “Finding God, Finding Health”

 

For further details, check individual web sites. Just type Christian Science and the relevant town (in your google search) e.g. Christian Science Gold Coast, Christian Science Wynnum, etc.